Railroad-signal



s. E. HUMPHRYS. RAILROAD SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I?. l9l6.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

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RAILROAD SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED MAR. I7, |916.

Patented Feb. 17, I920.

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S. E. HUMPHHYS. RAILROAD SIGNAL. APPLICATIONv FILED MAR. 11. 1916.

1,331,434. Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5'.

PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY E. HUJIPHRYS, OF'TOLBERT, TEXAS.

speeiation of Letters Patent.

RAILROADSIGNAL.y

Patented Feb.' 17, 1920.

Application filed Marclrw, 1916.A Serial No; 84.884.

To all whom t mag/concern:

Be it' knownV that I, SIDNEY E. HUM- rHnYs, a citizen of the United Stat-es, residing at Tolbert, in the county of Tilbarger and State of TeXas, have invented new and useful' Improvements in Railroad-Signals, of whichthe following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to automatic train stopping systemsand more particularly to a system'by means of which trains will be prevented from colliding at railway crossings.-

The* primary object-of the invention is to provide a'system of simple construction in which the Vparts are so correlated as to necessitate only a single source of current thus obviating-,the disadvantages of the use of a number of sources of current.

An object of the invention is the equipment of the approaches of a single track crossing I with novel circuit closing means controlled by a device carried by a train.

A further Yobj ect is the provision oi'novel electro-mechanical meansV for controlling the' operationyoi2v semaphores for notifyingthe engineer of an approaching train and indicating whether the vtrack is clear.

A still further objectis to provide in conjunction with the semaphore'positive means for stopping the train should the signal'be ignored, said means being electro-mechanicallyk operated in conjunction with the semaphores'.

Vith this and otherI objects in view the invention consists in the' construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more 'fully described and illustratedY in the accompanying drawings and pointed out'in the claims hereunto appended.

Referring: to the drawings Figure l is' a diagrammatic view ofV the circuits and devices for operating the ap-V paratus adjacent to one track, and showing the track switches oi' the intersecting track (the relative position of all apparatus with reference tothe crossingbeingv shown dia grammatically in Fig. 1l).

Fig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic' view showing the switch at the eXtreme right closed (by theoperation of the contact rail of Figs. l and 5) ,the switch arms in the base of the semaphoreA being in normal position;

Fig. 3 is a similar'view', the switch arms being: in a different position, after operation.

Fig.' ash'ows .thetrain carriedapparatus and y'.itsreatfm it@ 'the Contact mail,

Fig. 5 shows the contact rail-v and' associated elements.

Fig. 6'is atop plan view showing the position of the track elements; also showing' a portionof the tra-in carried device.

Fig. 7 is avertica-l section through the semaphore base, the' apparatus therein being in'elevation.y

Fig. Sis a section on line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. .9 is a section on line 9 9 of Figf?.

Fig. l0 is asimilar section,.through the switch arms onlyl showing the release catch engaged by a stationary element referred tol below.

Fig. 1l is a diagrammatic viewy showing the relative positiono the pieces of apparatus at the point where two tracks intersect.

The numeral l' designates a casing form-v *ing a base of a semaphore, the arm ofwhich is actuatelfby acable Sconnected-with a drum-referredto below. Slidably mounted in a portion of each ca-singl is-the r'od 4- movingfin a direction toward the center of the trackway. At` an intermediate point the rod 4 is providedwith'a pin t-mgaging' a bifurcated end ofY a' bell-cranklever 6 that has its remainingen'd pivotally` connect-edto one end of a link?, the other end oi the latter being connected by other links' to one end ofia switch arm 8.l

The switch arm S is' pivotallyconnected t'othe casing as indicated at 9; and the upper end thereof, as illustrated in the/drawings is provided witha contact plate lO'coperating with the' contact 'tingen 11 upon a second switch arm l2 also`1noun'ted upon the pivot 9.

Thev second switch arm 12 also carries a second Contact finge-r 13 engaging cont'acty rod i9 or a purpose hereinafter described. These switch-arms S and 121' areA heldassociated with eachl other in their downward arcuate movement' untiltheyr have assumed substantially a horizontal position when they are separatediro'meach other ina manner now to be described. The arm l2 has fo'mned the-reina'recess'l/lin whichis arranged a trigger 15- forcedin a: direction to engage the under surface? ofthe arm 8 by means of a coiledspringf16.y The armlgis provided withafplatel?, one purpose of` which isr to' cooperate withI trigger' 15 for preventingA inde-pendent movementI of thea'rms; other lpurposes will be describedfbelow.vv Forsepw rating the arms'V whenthey a horiv zontal1position.Ia mount upon-th of# the casing 1, a rod, 18 so arranged as to engage the inclined surface 19 oitlietrigger and-force' the latter in a ,directionv to disengage the under surface of the switch arm 8 and thus allow the switch arm 12 to ascend foraccomplishing the results which willbe by the influence oi the magnet 27. The

permits it to pass the portion of the latch and then engage curved end of arm 8 hook the latter.

vFor preventing the switch arm 12 from returning completely to its normal position for a purpose hereinafter described I provide a magnet 28 the armature 29 being connected to arm 29', one extremity of which being connected to a pivot lever 30 arranged to assume a position-in the path of movement of the switch arm 12. This construction is shown in Figs. Sand 10. Seealso Figs. 2 and V9. The numeral 31 indicates a spring so arranged as to act upon the armature 29 and hold the lever 30 out of the path of movement-of the switch arm 12. The

1 lever 30 is of insulating material and carries Y. and B are located .along the track 2, and A a contact below.

It is to be understood that there are four pieces of apparatus of the type shown in Fig. 7, and in the diagrammatic views they are designated. A and lB and A and B. A

plate 30 for the purpose described and B are locatedalong the track 2, as shown in Fig. 11.

The mechanisn'i for actuating the switch arm 35 is better illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6 Y inclusive of the drawings wherein is shown a contact rail 51 Vsupported plungers 52 working in cylinders 53 against the action of coil springs 54. At an intermediatelpoint the rail 51'is provided with a depending rod 55 working Vin a tubular extension 56 formed on casing 57 that houses the switch arm 35 and its associate parts. There are four switch arms 35 with their associated parts, the same being located along tracks 2 and 2 as shown in Fig. 11, at the points c, b and a" and For depressing the contact rails 51 in order to close a circuit I mount upon lthe cow-catcher 58 Yot-the locomotive a frame 59 "supporting f wheelsn'GO arranged to ride uponzthezupper surface Vof theV rail. In additionIy provide the Vstem 62 of the valve 63 of the airgbrake system with' an extension n64st) arrangedas to. engage the rod 4 when the latter is .thrown into a danger position.

The first position of arms 8 and 12 is shown in Fig. 2, a train having approached from theright and depressed lever .35 ofb, closing the'circuit of A (Figs. 1 and 11) as follows: f

From battery 32 through wires 33, 33, contact`34`, switch arm 35 off-Z2, wire 37', wire 37 of A', pivot 9, wire 38, plate 17, contact 11, plate 10, wire 39, to motor-20, wire 40, wire 32, to battery 32. (The circuit including magnet 27 may at this time be energized, but the magnet has no function in this operation.) The magnet 28` is also energized, but element 30 is held against movement by arm-8. The circuits for the mechanism at B may be traced in a similar manner. l Y.

When the motors oit A and B start, they wind the cables Y3, raising the semaphores, and also the cables 22, lowering switch arms 8 and 12, the arms 8 throwing rods 4 for engaging valve operating device 64, of Fig. 4, described elsewhere.l (The circuits for magnets 27 are now broken.)

When switch arms 8 and 12 ofL-B reach their lower position, arm 8 is locked by latch 26, the arm l2 is released by rod 18 engaging pivoted device 15, and the circuit for the motor is broken. 1 Arm 12 is raised by spring 42, this arm in Vapparatus A striking vthe contact 43. forcing it against plate 30 'of lever v30, while the plate 17 on switch arm' 12 of B makes contact with plate p30 of lever 30, this `lever stopping arm 12, magnet 28 being still energized. This magnet is included inthe circuit from battery 32,

through wires 33, 3.3, Contact 34, switch arm 35 of wire 37 wires 37, 40a, magnet 28, wires 40', 40, wire 32a, to battery 32. This position of the arms is shown in Fig. 3.

When arms8 'and 12 are in this position, current alsoV passes from wire 37 of B to pivot 9, wire 38 to plate 17, plate 30 on lever 30, wire 44, to plate 30 on lever 30 ot A, contact 43, wires 46,v 47, magnets 48, wire 32, wire 32a,-to battery 32. This energiZes magnet 48 of b releasing arm 35 and breaking the circuit, and also breaking the circuit oi" magnets 28 of A and B, the springs on arms 29 drawing .levers 30 out of the way of switch arms 12, and the latter striking stops 12 Vas: they resume their normal position. The elements are nowin the position shown in Fig.v 1.

The semaphores" of A and B now remain in theirzelevated position, the ratchet members locking the drums, and the switch arms 8being locked in their lower position, keep the rods 4 projected. i' A train. is now from the right in Fig. 11.

The vsemaphores androds 4 of A and B on track A2 'have'been'set so A passing over the crossing neer on a train approaching in either direction on track 2 will be notified, and should the semaphore be ignored the train will be stopped when rod 4 engages valve operating device 64 shown in Fig. 4. The elements remain in this position until the train passes the crossing, when lever 35 of A is depressed for closing the circuits described below:

Contact 13 on plate 17 of arm 12 rests against rod 49 of'A, and current passes from battery 32 through wires 33, 33, contact 34, lever 35 of A, wires 3l", wire 37, pivots 9, wires 38, plates 1T, contacts 13, contact rods 49, wires 50, magnets 27', wires 40, 32a to battery 32. The circuit through B is similar. Shunt circuits are completed as follows: The current passing over wire 402L and wire 40 energizes magnets 2S, causing them to project levers 30. Magnets 27 are thus energized, through wires 50, opening latches 26 and releasing arms 8, and ratchet devices 25. Arms S and cables 22 operate drums 21 and 23 for lowering the semaphores.

rI`he switcharms S, through the action of springs 66 move upwardly until they strike levers 30. Current now passes from wire 33 to wire 45, contact'plate 45', on switch arm 8, to plate 30 on lever 30 of B, to wire 44, to plate 30 and Contact 43 of A which has been pressed against plate 30 by arm 8, the current passing thence through wires 46, 47, magnet 4S of a, wires 32, 32, to battery 32. Y

The magnet 4S of t when energized releases lever 35, breaking all of the circuits, including magnets 28, allowing the switch arms to resume their normalposition.

The train having passed the crossing, all of the elements return to their normal position, and are again ready to be acted upon.

The operation of 0, Vand b and A Vand B is similar involving similar circuits. lires 70, 71, 72 leadto apparatus A and B of' Fig. 11.

It is to be understood that while all of the several fea-tures of my improved systcm have special cooperation with one another and together constitute a particularly effective system for Vthe purpose vin view certain of these features may be applied in other relations and I therefore desire to cover the combinations present in the several parts of my improved system whether employed in a general organization shown or elsewhere.

1. In an automatic train stop system a track apparatus comprising a rod mounted for reciprocatory movement, an electromotor, electro-mechanical means for energizing ysaid motor, a switch arm and rodprojecting means connected therewith establishing a connection between said motor and said rod and means associated with said switch arm for energizing said motor and said electro -mechanical means, the aforesaid electro-mechanical means for energizing the motor including a train-operated switch;

2. In an automatic train stop system a track apparatus comprising a rod mounted for reciprocatory movement, an electromotor, electro-mechanical means for ener gizing said motor, a switch arm and rodprojecting means connected therewith establishing al connection between said motor and rod and means associated with said switch arm for energizing said motor in one position of the switch arm, energizing said electro-mechanical means in another position of the switch arm and breaking the motor circuit in a third position of the switch arm,'the aforesaid electro-mechanical means for energizing the motor including a train-operated switch.

3. In an automatic train stop system 'a track apparatus comprising a rod mounted for reciprocatory movement, an electromotor, a circuit including a train-operated switch, a pair of switch arms and rodprojecting means connected therewith establishing a connection between the motor and said rod and cooperating to close the motor circuit and means for separating the said arms for breaking the motor circuit.

In an automatic train stop system a track apparatus comprising a rod mounted for reciprocatory movement, an electroniotor, a pair of switch arms and rodprojecting means connected therewith establishing a connection between the motor and said rod and cooperating to close the motor circuit and means for separating the said arms for breaking the motor circuit, electro-mechanical means for energizing the motor and means associated with one of said switch arms when the latter is in one position for rendering said electro-mechanical means active, the aforesaid electromechanical means for energizing the motor including a train-operated switch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' SIDNEY E. HUMPHRYS.

Witnesses LACY D. TERRELL, VERNA LUCKY. 

